This blog has been set up so local people can find out what is going on in the world of Moths, Butterflys and dragonflies in Calderdale.If you have any ID problems put up your photo's and someone will try and help you to id it.

Sunday, 31 May 2015

Sunday, 24 May 2015

Counts and Comments A very interesting night at the crags , first of all the predominant species was Brown Silver lines and the cold light N/W wind kept it pretty quiet for the time of year. The highlight was a Devon Carpet and a handful of Pugs which were all very worn and mainly end of season Brindled Pugs . 2 or 3 interesting ones were taken home for a closer look. One turned out to be an Ochreous Pug which has not been recorded locally before and the other a Larch Pug which is only known from 1 other site in Calderdale. Its a great place ......looking forward to the next session....
Species recorded , Brown Silver lines 16 .Common Swift 1, Brindled Pug 6 , Devon Carpet 1 , Small Phoenix , Flame Carpet 3 ,Scalloped Hazel 4 , Rivulet 1 , Ochreous Pug 1 , Larch Pug 1 ,
Common Quaker 1 ,Engrailed 2 ,Longhorn 3.

Other Entomology
There was a large number of Cock Chafers AKA May Bug Melolontha melolontha actually a Beetle , est 30 periodically dropping in some flight shots are shot below. Followed bt a Dor Beetle , A limonid cranefly, TBC and also the larger Tipula extensa easily recognised by its patterned wings . Ground beetles and Weevils Polydrusus and Phyllobius where evident as well as other smaller species Cantharids Soldier beetles Cantharis pellucida also dropped in with a Sawfly (Symphyta TBC)

Thanks to Andy Brian and Dave

1751 The Devon Carpet

Wingspan 27-30 mm.

A relatively scarce species, found mainly in the south and south-west of England and south Wales

.The caterpillars are brown with paler buff markings, and feed on common marsh bedstraw (Galium palustre) and possibly also fen bedstraw (Galium uliginosum)

1759 Small Phoenix Ecliptopera silaceata

The main larval foodplants are willowherbs (Epilobium spp.).

Profile showing Upright Tuft

0017 Common Swift Korscheltellus lupulina

Feeding on the roots of grasses and small plants, the larvae live underground.

1802 The Rivulet Perizoma affinitata

Red campion (Silene dioica) is the preferred foodplant, the caterpillars living inside the seed capsules, eating the seeds.

1902 Brown Silver-line Petrophora chlorosata

It flies in a single generation during May and June, and occupies woodland and upland areas where its foodplant grows in profusion.Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) is the foodplant of the caterpillars, which occur from July to September.

1844 Ochreous Pug Eupithecia indigata

it is a species of coniferous woodland, and flies early in the year, during April and May. The caterpillars feed on the young shoots or buds of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) or larch (Larix).

Wingspan 15-18 mm.

Image (C) 2015 Andy Cockroft

One last one before the lcamera went to bed.... A White Shouldered House Moth

Sunday, 17 May 2015

Friday, 15 May 2015

Found 4 larvae today on Silver Birch at Mythomroyd..Spagetti frass and grey larvae the give away for this species. Until a few years ago this was thought to be a rare moth in Yorkshire , but it is now recorded as regular. http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=3370

Friday, 8 May 2015

Had my first Speckled Wood at Northowram today , along with Orange Tip , Green veined and Small Whites, Peacock , Small Tortoiseshell and Comma. Green Hairstreaks have been reported this week and next week should be good for all the early summer species.

Monday, 4 May 2015

Found CB nr Weir 04.05.2015 on Hawthorn Daytime, This specimen had a marked glossy silver legs not apparent from the image This moth underpins the importance of Willow accross the LNR The larvae feed on willow (Salix) and poplar (Populus)